Beleaguered Rushwaya gives journalists the run-around

Rushwaya is accused of embezzling US$2400 from the national association's coffers.

She is due to appear in court on 23 November and is on $10 million bail.

On Friday, Rushwaya had been invited to make an appearance at the Bulawayo Press Club, but around 9pm, the organisers said the Air Zimbabwe plane from Harare had failed to arrive.

But that proved to be untrue as Premier Soccer League fixtures secretary Godfrey Japajapa had arrived on the same plane that evening, together with some officials from CBZ Holdings, who sponsored Sunday's FA Cup final between Dynamos and Highlanders at Barbourfields.

Sources said Rushwaya believes there is a conspiracy from Bulawayo-based journalists to have her booted out of office.

A ZIFA official said: “She is a bit uneasy...she thinks Bulawayo journalists are out to get her because she has left them out of all foreign trips with national teams in favour of Robson Sharuko from the Herald.

“But the bottom line is that she is not supposed to be in office due to her case, as she can interfere with state witnesses at will.

“But ZIFA has decided to keep her, unlike what they did to Mashingaidze (Jonathan, former CEO) who was suspended over newspaper reports of misappropriating World Cup ticket funds last year, but has not been found guilty.

“ZIFA believes she has political backing, but Rafik Khan went to jail even when he as a treasurer of Zanu PF's Eastlea branch in Harare.”

On Saturday, reporters converged at a Bulawayo hotel seeking to interview Rushwaya, but she snubbed them, screaming to reporters from inside her hotel room.

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